Arne Slot has only exchanged text messages with one fellow Premier League manager and that’s Eddie Howe. He holds his rival in such high regard and he has tipped him to one day become England head coach.
But whether or not the Newcastle boss would be so welcoming to messages at present from his Liverpool counterpart may be discovered on Monday evening when they clash at St James’ Park.
Much has transpired between the clubs since Slot and Howe messaged one another following Newcastle‘s Carabao Cup triumph against the Reds at Wembley. Most notably Liverpool‘s chase of Alexander Isak, the Magpies striker who has downed tools to engineer a switch to Anfield.
“I don’t know,” Slot said when asked if this summer’s events have damaged relations between the clubs. “The only manager I’ve ever texted with was Eddie Howe (in the Premier League ). In Holland I texted with a few more, but after the League Cup final we did exchange a few messages. If I see him I will be the same as I was last year, and I expect nothing different from him as well. On a higher level, I have no clue. For me it’s still the same relationship with him.”
Liverpool will descend upon the North East on Monday night as the mighty villains. But they’ll encounter a Newcastle side weakened by Isak’s absence and a summer where they’ve failed – so far at least – to secure their top targets with the exception of Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale. It is in attack where they are lacking given Isak’s injury and the inability to secure several forward targets, including Hugo Ekitike, who will feature for Liverpool.
Slot and Howe share a mutual connection through Richard Hughes, Liverpool‘s sporting director who previously played alongside the Newcastle manager at Portsmouth before collaborating at Bournemouth, and he acknowledges this as the foundation of their relationship.
“In general I have sympathy for Eddie Howe because he is a great human being, he’s always polite, so that is my general feeling about him,” said the Liverpool boss. “It’s maybe not a coincidence that I’ve texted with him because I think he’s a very nice and honest, polite colleague. For the rest, I don’t need to have sympathy for a manager that can still have the availability of [Anthony] Gordon, [Jacob] Murphy, Elanga, [Harvey] Barnes.
“They didn’t replace [Callum] Wilson did they? You don’t need to have sympathy for a manager who has so many good players in his squad. But in general, I think I like him and I don’t think it will be a surprise to anyone if eventually he is going to lead the national team of England as well. Good human being and a very good manager.”
Liverpool travel to St James’ Park for what promises to be an almost savage atmosphere with supporters furious that their star player is being tempted away by the Premier League champions. “If that is even possible,” said Slot when asked if the atmosphere will be more hostile.
“Because it was very intense the last time we played there as well. It’s actually always that way when Newcastle play a home game, let alone an evening game. It’s always so, so, so intense. So I don’t know if that is an extra reason for them. I don’t even know if it is what the players and the manager are thinking as well. Of course, social media and people write a lot, but is this truly what the players are thinking and the manager is thinking? I don’t know. I have no clue.”
The expectation remains that once this fixture concludes, Liverpool may renew their pursuit of Isak following their unsuccessful £110million offer.
Slot is keen to bolster his attacking options after offloading Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, alongside the devastating passing of Diogo Jota. However, he maintains that following the acquisitions of Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, his forward line is sufficiently equipped that failing to secure another striker wouldn’t constitute a risk.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk